Don Williams

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For other uses, see Don Williams (disambiguation).

Don Williams

Don Williams (born May 27, 1939) in Floydada, Texas, is a country music singer and songwriter. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo Seco Singers, he began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing 17 number one hits. His straightforward vocals, soft tones, and an imposing build earned him the nickname the gentle giant of country music.

1 Early career
2 Solo Career
3 Recognition
4 Well known Songs
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Early career

He began playing guitar as a teenager, which he learned from his mother. While a teenager, he used to play with country, rock and folk bands. He formed his first band with Lofton Kline, called The Strangers Two and in 1964, recruited Susan Taylor, they formed the Pozo Seco Singers, a folk-pop group. The band after signing a contract with Columbia Records had a series of hits in the Top 50's till late 1966. The group disbanded in 1971, at which point, Don Williams embarked on his successful solo career.

[edit] Solo Career

Williams initially started out as a songwriter for Jack Music Inc., since he lacked belief about going solo but then signed with JMI as a solo artist. His 1974 song "We Should Be Together" reached number five and he was signed on with ABC/Dot. His first single with ABC/Dot, "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me," became a number one hit, and was the first of a string of top ten hits he had between 1974 and 1991. In fact, only four of his 46 singles didn't make it to the Top Ten.

Early in 2006, Williams announced his "Farewell Tour of The World" and played numerous dates both in the U.S. and abroad, wrapping the tour up with the "Final Farewell Concert" in Memphis, TN at the Cannon Center for Performing Arts on Tuesday November 21, 2006. Playing to a full-house, the final event was well received and quite emotional for fans in attendance. According to his staff, Williams is now retired and will no longer tour, although the possibility of new recordings does exist.

Williams was the balladeer for the 1997 telefilm The Dukes of Hazzard Reunion!, taking over for Waylon Jennings, who narrated the original Dukes TV show.

[edit] Recognition

In 1978, Don Williams was the Country Music Association's Male Vocalist of the Year and his Tulsa Time was named Single of the Year. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Lefty Frizzell, Sonny James, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, and Pete Townshend. His music is also popular internationally, including Africa and India [1].

[edit] Well known Songs

The Shelter Of Your Eyes (1973)
Amanda (1973)
I Recall A Gypsy Woman (1973)
Come Early Morning (1973)
Atta Way To Go (1974)
We Should Be Together (1974)
I Wouldn't Want To Live(If You Didn't Love Me) (1974)
You're My Best Friend (1975)
Till The Rivers All Run Dry (Harmony - 1976)
Say It Again (1976)
She Never Knew Me (1976)
I'm Just a Country Boy (1977)
Some Broken Hearts Never Mend (Visions - 1977)
I Got A Winner In You (1978)
Rake And Ramblin' Man (1978)
Lay Down Beside Me (1979)
It Must Be Love (1979)
Tulsa Time (1979)
Love Me Over Again (1980)
Good Ole Boys Like Me (1980)
I Believe in You (1980)
Falling Again (1981)
Miracles (1981)
If I Needed You(with Emmylou Harris) (1981)
Lord I Hope This Day is Good (1982)
Mistakes (1982)
If Hollywood Don't Need You (Honey I Still Do) (1983)
Love Is On A Roll (1983)
That's The Thing About Love (1984)
Walkin' A Broken Heart (1985)
Heartbeat In The Darkness (1986)
I'll Never Be In Love Again (1987)
Another Place, Another Time (1988)
Desperately (1988)
Old Coyote Town (1989)
One Good Well (1989)
Back In My Younger Days (1990)
True Love (1991)
Love Have Mercy On A Country Boy (1991)
Yellow Moon
Louisiana Saturday Night (Originally recorded by Williams; more commonly known as a single released by Mel McDaniel)